Police in Murang’a are searching for a 22-year-old man who murdered his 60-year-old father in cold blood before setting his body on fire.
Michael Muchiri is said to have waylaid his dad, John Mwangi as he returned home from work on Thursday evening and struck him on the head with a blunt object over an alleged family dispute.
He then poured petrol on his body and set it on fire before fleeing the scene, according to reports.
Mwangi, a resident of Muchungucha village in Kiharu, was a popular nyama choma chef in Murang’a town.
Susan Wanjiru, the deceased’s wife said she was alerted by a loud bang outside her house at around 7:30 pm and when she rushed out, she saw her son running from what appeared to be a huge fire.
She first thought his son was burning some banana leaves but when she got close, she saw a piece of her husband’s shirt and what appeared to be his body smoldering.
“I thought my son was burning banana leaves, but when I got closer, I saw my husband’s shirt, it was him and he was on fire (sic), I just ran away…,” she explained.
Confirming the incident, area Chief Wanjiru Mukami said police are pursuing the suspect who is still at large. She added that the suspect is likely to have been using drugs judging from his past behaviors.
The suspect’s sister, Joycelynn Wamuyu said her brother was accusing his dad of sidelining him and allowing farmhands to work at their family farm without consulting him.
Muchiri, who dropped out of school while in Form Two, had brandished a machete at his mother on a number of occasions in the past, according to the family. He also attacked his sister-in-law some months ago, dislocating her arm in the process.
